Ethel Faye Wallace was born on February 27, 1948, and passed away on September 3, 2026, at the age of 78.

Ethel worked in the cafeteria at Gladewater ISD, where she was part of the daily life of the school community. Her work reflected a caring and dependable spirit, and she will be remembered by those who knew her through those years. Ethel was also a woman of Baptist faith, which was an important part of her life.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Darrell Caldwell, Sonia Hernandez, Johnny Faye Long, John Marlow and wife Angie; a bonus son Johnny Smith stepchildren, Tami Macias and husband Javier, James Edward Wallace II and William T. Wallace and Dominic Ward; along with 23 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert Lee Robertson and Ethel Annie Johnson Robertson; husband, James “Gator” Wallace and grandson, Stetson Caldwell. 

Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance during a visitation on Friday, September 11, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater. A memorial service celebrating Ethel’s life will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Abundant Life Church in Gladewater.